Summoned for remaining absent thrice, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray appeared before a magistrate's court in Kalyan in a case related to the alleged attack by his party workers on north Indian candidates at a railway examination centre in 2008.

Summoned for remaining absent thrice, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray appeared before a magistrate's court in Kalyan in a case related to the alleged attack by his party workers on north Indian candidates at a railway examination centre in 2008.

Thackeray's lawyer Sayaji Nagre said: "The court had issued a bailable warrant against Thackeray. So, he came to the court on Monday morning. The warrant has been cancelled."

"We have filed an application for permanent exemption from appearance in the case. We have also filed a discharge application," he added.

Parag Pradhan, who appeared in the railway court for Thackeray said: "The issue was not very serious. Thackeray was asked to remain present in the court which he did. Because he remained absent for three hearings, he was summoned by the court."

The discharge application has been filed on the ground that there is no evidence to prove Thackeray's involvement in the case.

Thackeray, along with seven others, was booked in connection with the attack on students who had come to Kalyan for the railway recruitment examination from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar on October 16, 2008.

The prosecution had alleged that Thackeray had instigated his party workers to attack the applicants.

"The prosecution has nothing to show that Thackeray was involved in the attack. There is no evidence that Thackeray had instigated the mob to attack. Hence, we have moved a discharge plea in the case," said Nagre.

Public prosecutor Reshma Jadhav sought time to file a reply on the applications.